Early Tuesday morning, October 25, 2022, Peter Dennis Hardwick fell asleep peacefully in the arms of the Lord at the age of 83.  He is and was a beloved and loyal husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin and friend.

"Butch" as he was lovingly called was born in Boston, Massachusetts on March 26, 1939, to Allen and Fredericka Hardwick the youngest of nine children.  Peter is survived by his wife of 57 years Carolyn (Lopes) Hardwick; sons Peter, Shayne and Jonathan; daughters Kristine Lewis, Thea Sierra (husband David Sierra), and Ashley Edwards (husband Malik Edwards); sisters Phoebe Matthews and Edwina Burke.  Peter has 10 grandsons and 2 granddaughters, many, nieces, nephews and cousins.  Peter was preceded in death by Allen & Fredericka Hardwick, siblings Barbara, Irene, Brenda, Lucille, Wendell and Allen.

Peter "Butch" graduated from Boston Trade High School in 1957.  As a young man he was part of the Holy Trinity Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps.  He enlisted in the Air Force in 1957 during peacetime and was honorably discharged in 1961. Afterward he attended Wentworth Institute.  Butch started a family in 1966, and then went overseas to Turkey as a government contractor for Tumpane.  He blazed a trail by moving his family from Massachusetts to New Hampshire to live in a house in the "boonies".  Blaze a trail he did!  Ever the one to look for a new opportunity he started up "businesses" and forged friendships in the late 60's that was radical in that era.  But friends, relationships were started and are still here today because of his zest for life and opportunity.  Butch was the catalyst that shifted a change that rippled his generation but effected the next generation the most.

The change was entrepreneur to move and live outside comfort zones.  He, his wife and children started and worked three businesses: Tiki Hut, King Kone and Hardwicks Hitching Post.  There were highs, lows, joy and pain.

Peter, Butch and most lovingly referred to as Uncle Butch had an affinity for German Shepherd dogs, good music, New England Patriots, Boston Celtics and Red Sox, along with good food in the company of his family.  Peter's love for his children, grandchildren caused him to stand a little taller, smile more and if you had thirty minutes, he would tell you all about his children, grandchildren while showing you stacks of pictures.  His family is what he talked about the most. He talked about every aspect of his family to include previous generations, siblings, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Ever the optimist.  He would often say behind every dark cloud is a "silver lining".  Peter, Butch, Uncle Butch…... "Daddy" has entered his eternal silver lining where there is never any darkness.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Kathryn's Church, 4 Dracut Road, Hudson, NH on Wednesday, November 9 ^th at 10 AM. Burial with military honors will be held at the New Hampshire Veteran's Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Highway, Boscawen, NH at 1 PM.